A 27-year-old woman survived a potentially fatal attack after bystanders intervened and overpowered a man who allegedly assaulted her with a knife on a busy road on the outskirts of Bengaluru, police said on Thursday.
The accident occurred on May 6 on Madanayakanahalli Main Road under the jurisdiction of Madanayakanahalli Police Station. CCTV footage of the attack, which was widely circulated on social media, showed a masked man confronting the woman before publicly attacking her.
According to police, the woman, identified as Sonali, a native of Jharkhand, was walking on the side of the road when the accused arrived on a motorcycle and approached her. He then pulled out a knife and attacked her repeatedly, investigators said.
Police said local residents and passers-by, upon hearing her screams, rushed to the scene and restrained the attacker before he caused serious injuries. It was alleged that some passers-by assaulted the accused before handing him over to the police.
Madanayakanahalli police inspector Murali said public intervention prevented the incident from becoming more serious.
He added: “People nearby immediately rushed to rescue the woman after hearing her screams. Their quick response helped prevent what could have turned into a murder case.”
Police identified the accused as Sanjay, 35, also from Jharkhand and the victim’s husband. The police said that preliminary investigations indicate that there are ongoing disputes between the spouses.
The woman was injured in the attack and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Doctors said that she suffered minor injuries and was out of danger.
Police suspect that a domestic dispute may have led to the assault, although detectives are continuing investigations to determine the exact motive and determine whether the attack was planned in advance.
Inspector Murali said that the accused tried to hide his identity by wearing a mask during the attack.
